MAN CITY AND LIVERPOOL EYEING £165M CHELSEA "SUPERSTAR" WITH APPROACH MADE

Premier League rivals Man City and Liverpool are now believed to be targeting a Chelsea "superstar" this summer, with an approach already made for him ahead of the first window which opens on June 1st.

Chelsea's main transfer plans for this summer

As per reliable journalist Simon Phillips, sharing a fresh update on Enzo Maresca and BlueCo's transfer plans, there are three main positions which they'd like to strengthen before next season.

Chelsea are thought to be after a new centre-back, winger and striker as their three main priorities, and could even look to reinforce a host of other areas throughout the squad as well, but this will depend on many factors - like Champions League qualification and player sales.

"Chelsea’s priority is a new striker, centre back, and a winger," said Phillips, via his Substack.

"But not just that. After those three, Chelsea are also discussing signing a new left back (or a defender who can play left back), a second centre back to arrive as well as the priority one (could be a hybrid CB/LB), a new goalkeeper, and a versatile attacker.

"However, some of the latter will be Champions League-dependent as well as player sales-dependent."

Their Club World Cup campaign may also be a crucial factor, as Maresca's side are thought to be taking it very seriously with £100 million worth of prize money potentially on the line.

Meanwhile, Chelsea will most likely be looking to offload a host of players when the summer window opens, including the likes of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Alfie Gilchrist, Armando Broja, Raheem Sterling, David Datro Fofana, Renato Veiga, Carney Chukwuemeka, Ben Chilwell, Axel Disasi and João Félix - who are all away from Stamford Bridge on loan and don't appear to have a long-term future.

Trevoh Chalobah is also likely to leave Chelsea, after initially being allowed to join Crystal Palace on a temporary deal before Maresca and co activated his recall clause, and a few more current squad members could well join him as BlueCo look to raise funds.

Man City and Liverpool eyeing move for Chelsea star Cole Palmer

However, one player who Maresca won't want to ship out the door is Chelsea forward Cole Palmer.

The England sensation was by some distance their Player of the Season last term, and despite a slight dip in performance level this campaign, Palmer remains one of their most crucial assets and a truly unstoppable force on his day.

His £42.5 million signing from City in 2023 was an absolute snip, but according to Phillips, Pep Guardiola's side are actually eyeing a move to re-sign their former academy star.

As per the reporter, both Liverpool and City are targeting Palmer from Chelsea, with the latter even making an enquiry recently, even if it is unlikely that the Blues would even entertain letting him go.

The "superstar" forward, according to reports in Spain last year, could even cost as much as £165 million - so it appears Chelsea could price their man out of the market.

2025-04-24T20:47:24Z